Fed Square officials, led by MAP Co Chief Executive Katrina Sedgwick, said multiple perimeter and security fence breaches created a high risk of crowd crushes, making it unsafe to proceed and placing attendee, staff, and performer safety as the priority.

Thousands of attendees were left disappointed as the square cleared, turning what had been billed as a major city moment into a cancellation for fans.

The event was slated to begin late in the evening, but organisers cancelled at short notice, announcing the decision roughly an hour before the scheduled performance.

Observers noted the act’s popularity and punk vibe may have outgrown the venue, suggesting the scale of the performance contributed to the safety concerns.

The cancellation was announced over the public address system with apologies to the fans and the band, and organizers stressed the decision was made with safety as the priority.

On-site reports described large crowds that caused turnbacks at the entrance as capacity was reached.

Amy Taylor, lead singer of Amyl and the Sniffers, publicly voiced disappointment and attributed the shutdown to security breaches and crowd-control failures.

Multiple notices indicated the free Fed Square concert was called off moments before showtime due to overcrowding and safety concerns after barricades were breached.

Front-line journalists and security staff reported that pressure on the crowd caused fencing to collapse, rendering continuation unsafe.

The band issued backstage and social-media statements apologizing for the cancellation and highlighting inadequate security planning and unsafe barrier breaches.

Promotional materials had highlighted strong interest in the Melbourne AC/DC shows, with support from public figures, underscoring the scale of the turnout that raised safety concerns.

Sedgwick stressed the decision was driven by safety breaches rather than crowd behavior, making it unsafe to continue the show.